In a business environment that is more competitive than ever, gas stations with high volumes and/or convenience stores need new ways to build traffic and customer loyalty, while driving repeat business. Excel digital air machines are a proven way to increase air machine usage, which in turn increases revenues from existing profit centers.
A brand building enhancement that pays for itself.
The installation of an Excel digital air machine tells site visitors you’re willing to go the extra mile in value-added services — while helping them save fuel, increase driving safety and reduce toxic emissions through proper tire inflation.
You reap the benefits in multiple ways:
- Increased usage of Excel digital air machines versus the competition — typically 30% or more
- Increased traffic due to consumers becoming more conscious about proper tire inflation — and looking for a easy in/out method to achieve this
- Increased gasoline sales as a direct result of the increased traffic
- The corollary boost to c-store sales due to the increased traffic
- Enhancement of your overall site image, helping to separate you from the competition
- Strengthened customer loyalty, since visitors feel you’re looking out for their best interests
Turning heightened awareness into more profits.
Many drivers don’t check their tires until they “look low”. But with recent government efforts to encourage proper inflation — including mandated tire pressure monitoring systems (TPMS) on 2008 vehicles and newer — more and more vehicle owners are becoming conscious, and looking for a quick and accurate fix.
As federal and state governments are ramping up their efforts to encourage proper tire inflation, it’s reasonable to expect that usage of Excel digital air inflation machines will continue to rise. This will serve to heighten the trickle-through and customer satisfaction benefits described above.
Facts to Consider:
The average driver wastes 44 gallons of gasoline a year due to underinflated tires — 2.8 billion gallons nationally.
AAA Southern California
14% of gas stations are either not equipped with air pumps, or have malfunctioning units. Less than half that offer air pumps have tire pressure gauges.
NHTSA study
85% of American drivers do not properly check tire inflation pressure.
Rubber Manufacturers Association survey
Under-inflation is the leading cause of tire failure. Yet, 27% of cars and 32% of vans, pickup trucks and SUVs have at least one tire underinflated.
NHTSA study
75% of drivers wash their cars every month, while only 14% correctly check their tire pressure.
Be Tire Smart campaign • Canada
Putting proper inflation into the workflow.
For a tire shop, time is money. This is particularly true during peak periods, when any hiccup in the process detracts from both revenue and customer satisfaction. The installation of Excel digital air machines is worth it for the improvements in PSI accuracy and overall productivity alone. Your tire techs can now make proper inflation part of your Standard Operating Procedure — achieving accuracy within .5 PSI in seconds.
Paying for themselves.
The installation of Excel digital air machines will pay for itself within a relatively short payback period. The first reason is increased efficiency. Proper tire inflation is now a manual process that eats up valuable time throughout the day. This slows down your workflow during busy times, to the detriment of both profitability and customer satisfaction.
Now think about how much you spend on pen gauges during a single year of operation. We’ll bet you’re constantly replacing them, and it’s adding up to a surprising number. Chances are, the money you save on pen gauges alone — in just a year or two — will pay for the installation of Excel digital air machines.
Building your brand.
Beyond their dollars-and-sense advantages, Excel digital air machines position your enterprise as an eco-friendly and customer-centric business. One that helps your customers to:
- Save money daily through the increased gas mileage that results from proper inflation — which in turn leads to decreased carbon emissions
- Save even more through the increased tire life that comes with a set of well-cared-for tires. Proper care and inflation are also reflected in enhanced driving safety.
In fact, Excel digital air machines can be an enticing freebie to bring in new traffic, while driving repeat business. Some of our tire-shop accounts have boosted their business substantially by offering free air — delivered with the speed and precision that is only possible with Excel’s advanced technology.
Facts to Consider:
As a rule of thumb, the life of a tire decreases 10% for every 10% it is underinflated.
CarInsurance.com
A tire under- or over-inflated by 20% or more can look normal. Yet, 59% of drivers interviewed rely on visual eye-checks for tire pressure.
Be Tire Smart campaign • Canada
27% of passenger cars on U.S. roadways are driven with one or more substantially under-inflated tires.
NHTSA
Awareness of the benefits of proper tire inflation has increased substantially, due to public education efforts and the mandate of tire pressure monitoring systems (TPMS).
Rubber Association of Canada
For an auto rental facility, the benefits of proper tire inflation are numerous. With the installation of Excel digital air machines, rapid and precise inflation easily becomes standard operating procedure. Instead of something that’s addressed only at preventive maintenance milestones, it actually becomes part of the vehicle prep process. A few advantages are:
Increased safety and decreased liability.
Improper inflation is detrimental to effective braking, acceleration and overall handing. Excel digital air machines help minimize the incidence of accidents caused by tire-related issues through consistent and precise calibration.
As a result, regular and proper inflation practices can help to reduce overall insurance liability claims — while preventing lawsuits that arise from tire blowouts. These are substantial considerations for any auto rental facility or chain.
Reduced tire costs through minimized tread wear.
Tire replacement is a major cost item in the auto rental industry. Excel digital air machines help get the most life out of each set of tires across your fleet. This adds up to enormous savings — and enhances resale value at the end of each vehicle’s useful life. In the meantime, the customer enjoys the best possible experience in terms of comfort, handling and assurance.
Eliminating the hassle and cost of hose reels.
With competing air machines, ceiling-hung hose reels are part of their cumbersome apparatus. A tech needs to pull the hose down and step on it, just to inflate a tire. The hose mechanism, which can break with repeated use, is also costly to replace.
The installation of streamlined Excel digital air machines eliminates this annoyance and expense. This saves you money through increased work efficiency, while decreasing equipment maintenance costs.
Eco-conscious benefits to enhance your brand.
Rental customers like to know they’ll get good gas mileage. As a result, the benefits of proper inflation are something you can promote as an adjunct selling point. While decreasing gas consumption for customers, Excel digital air machines also help reduce toxic emissions across your entire fleet. This is another reason people can feel good about renting from your company.
Facts to consider:
660 fatalities and 33,000 injuries occur every year as a result of a crash due to under-inflated tires.
NHTSA
Tires lose pressure each day through the process of permeation. In cool weather, a tire will typically lose one or two pounds of air per month. In warm weather, it's common for tires to lose air at an even higher rate.
DiscountTire.com
Improper inflation is the main cause of premature tread loss and sudden tire failure, according to tire industry experts.
NHTSA
An overinflated tire rides on just the center portion of the tread. The smaller contact area means reduced grip on the road — leading to a harsh ride, handling issues, and increased wear on tires and suspension components.
Transport Canada
Over Inflation causes excessive wear at the center of the tread. With underinflation, there is too much road contact with the outer treads, which wear prematurely.
ProCarCare.com
LankaFlatFree.com
Today, the costs associated with operating a fleet of vehicles are nothing short of staggering. But you may be surprised at multiple cost savings that can be gained simply through proper tire inflation.
With the installation of Excel digital air machines, rapid and precise inflation easily becomes standard operating procedure. Instead of something that’s addressed only at preventive maintenance milestones, it actually becomes part of the daily vehicle prep process. Some examples are:
Maximized fuel economy.
Fuel is the most expensive line-item on a fleet owner’s balance sheet. According to the AAA Gas Watcher Guide, a tire that’s under-inflated by 7 to 10 PSI can lose up to 10% in fuel economy. Considering the substantial margin of error in large truck tires, consistent precise inflation can be a major cost-cutting factor for your enterprise.
Reduced tire costs through minimized tread wear.
With Excel digital air machines, extended tire life becomes second nature. The SOP of proper inflation ensures maximum tire life across your entire fleet of vehicle assets. See the sample analysis at right to get an idea of what Excel can save you in tire replacement costs. This also heightens driving safety for your valued employees, since their vehicle’s tires are always precisely calibrated to align with manufacturers’ specs.
Eco-conscious benefits to enhance your brand.
When a consumer sees a commercial vehicle, “eco-friendly” isn’t the first word that comes to mind. With Excel digital air machines, the benefits of proper inflation are something you can use for promotional advantage. The fact that your vehicles are saving fuel, reducing toxic emissions — and putting safer handling trucks on the road — offers you a host of public relations benefits.
Facts to consider:
A tire can be as much as 50% under inflated before it is visibly noticeable.
Be Tire Smart campaign • Canada
Underin?ation increases rolling resistance, which reduces tread life and increases fuel consumption.
Bridgestone research
Under-inflation is the most common cause of tire failure and can lead to poor or delayed braking, steering or acceleration. Seriously under-inflated tires can also fail suddenly due to extreme heat buildup.
NHTSA
In cold weather, tires lose pressure at the rate of about 1 psi for every 5°C drop in temperature. Permeability may also rob a tire of about 2 psi per month.
Bridgestone research
LandLineMag.com
